15 November 2023 , 02:00
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Diogo Jota is taking inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo, who didn't peak until his 30s with the Liverpool forward believing the best is yet to come.
The Portuguese star, who has rubbed shoulders with Ronaldo, has been a hit since making the move to Anfield from Wolves in 2020. His exploits were enough to quickly force his way into Jurgen Klopp's first-team plans and he's largely been prolific ever since for the Reds.
Liverpool are spoilt for attacking talent but Jota has remained a regular source of goals. He's found the net on eight occasions this term after an injury-hit campaign last time out. Still just 26, the forward believes he has plenty of time on his side to become the player he wants to be.
He told the club's website: “You have a lot of energy when you are young but you still do a lot of mistakes and you always learn with experience. I always look up to [Cristiano] Ronaldo, for example, and I think he scored more goals since he has been over 30 than before he was 30, so that shows as well it’s doable. It also means if you are 26 you can be away from your prime and that’s what I expect – and that’s what I work for as well every day.”
Ronaldo has scored well over 200 goals since turning 30 and also claimed several Ballon d'Ors such has been his success. Now approaching his 40s, he remains in peak physical condition.
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Jota's best goalscoring season came in 2021/22 when he scored 21 times - eight more than in his debut campaign. He was handed a difficult task when he moved to Merseyside - dislodging one of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino, who had formed a fearsome front three.
Diogo Jota has been in the goals ever since he moved to Liverpool (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Klopp challenged the Portugal international to relish the challenge and a goal early in his career against Arsenal, having come on as a sub, proved to be the catalyst he needed.
Jota explained: “Everyone is expecting me to [be a substitute] but in my mind I know I can challenge and that was one of the first things Jürgen said to me: ‘I want you here but I want you to fight for a spot in the starting XI.’ For me, it was like: ‘I know that I want to do this, he is telling me that, so why not?’
“So, I just took it day by day, training and playing the best that I could whenever I stepped on the pitch. And I was lucky enough to score pretty much straight away against Arsenal and everything clicked from that point on.”